Azerbaijan-Greece relationships: towards strategic partnership

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Greece is of pretty wide character. Diplomatic relations of Azerbaijan with this state were established in April 1992. Greek embassy in Azerbaijan was opened on May 27, 1993, Azerbaijan opened its embassy in this country on April 16, 2004. Meetings and visits on the levels of presidents and ministers have contributed to the development of bilateral ties between the two states. State visit President Ilham Aliyev paid to Greece on June 15, 2014 showed these relations have entered a new period of development.

An important part of relationship between Azerbaijan and Greece is associated with energy security. Greek-Azerbaijani relations are of strategic importance here. TAP gas pipeline which will carry natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe via Greece deepens bilateral economic cooperation. The TAP project is not only a project of energy security. At the same time, it has raised the friendly ties between the two countries to an even higher level. The Shah Deniz, TANAP and TAP projects initiated by Azerbaijan are currently the largest infrastructure projects in Europe. As a result of these projects, Azerbaijan will export its natural gas to European markets for decades to come. President of Greece Karolos Papoulias hailed the acquisition on the part of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan of most of the shares of Greek company DESFA as a positive development.

Three documents opening up new opportunities for the expansion of bilateral relations between the countries were signed as part of the visit: a memorandum between Greece and Azerbaijan on issues of the European Union, an agreement on cooperation in the field of agriculture and a memorandum on cooperation in youth affairs. Thus, huge potential to deepen our political, economic and cultural relations, accompanied by well-organized cooperation in energy sphere, was confirmed. In short, the visit proved the bilateral relations are enhancing towards the strategic partnership. Confidence in faster development of these relations in future was expressed.

National security system

National security of every state is related to regional and global security. In this respect, one of the key factors strengthening the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan is creation of the national security system. Creation of the national security system is linked to the following factors:

- Azerbaijan possesses rich energy resources, favorable natural climate, rich soil;

- Domestic market meeting the requirements of economic integration, labor resources, social infrastructure;

- Favorable geographic position.

The legal bases to the national security of the Republic of Azerbaijan are Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, valid laws and normative acts, also international documents recognized by the Republic of Azerbaijan. Closely cooperating with the UN and all other international and regional organizations, the Republic of Azerbaijan contributes to the protection of international security and peace. Using all its opportunities, independent Azerbaijan takes active part in the modern international security system, performs serious activities to control and eliminate the new challenges emerging under the influence of existing realities, also protect national interests.  

The Republic of Azerbaijan makes efforts to exactly conform its actions towards assurance of international security to activities aiming at the removal of threats to the national interests and security. The main problem to our country today is the restoration of territorial integrity.

Protection of national interests of the independent state of Azerbaijan, implementation of internal and foreign policy, as well correct evaluation of crossing and clashing interests of the world states depend a lot on the work of the national security system. Security of Azerbaijan is very important for security of the whole region. It features a help to Azerbaijan to guarantee stability and security in the country to deliver the region’s energy resources to world markets. 

12.08.2014 Attitude of USA on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem

An important actor demonstrating an activity in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is superstate USA, one of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs. The US always approaches the Nagorno-Karabakh problem from the aspect coordinated with its relations with Russia. This problem is the main obstacle to USA, which always competes with Russia concerning the delivery of the Caspian resources to global markets. To keep primacy on the development of the energy sources in the region, the US makes efforts to reduce the influence of the regional and other actors. Russia is surely the major target here. On the other hand, USA, which was not involved in the ethnic conflicts occurred in the region in the time of Bill Clinton, became one of the leading actors in the resolution of the conflict after the September 11, 2001 stories. It was the result of the diplomatic steps taken by our republic and its support to the fight with international terrorism.      

The attitude of the US on Nagorno-Karabakh is characterized as follows:

1)     Supporting the phasic solution of the problem;

2)     The principle of multilateralism in the settlement of the problem;

3)     To keep the Islamic Republic of Iran as far from the problem as possible;

4)     Strengthening the democracy in the region.

There are several causes why USA does not take serious steps for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, though the Republic of Azerbaijan has risen today up to the level of strategic partnership with this state: 

1) Trying to keep Russia, world’s another strong state, away from the region, USA does not wish to be in a strict confrontation with this country in this affair;

2) The Armenian lobby in the US is able to influence this state’s policy in the Nagorno-Karabakh problem;

3) USA is between contradictious interests. Developing cooperation with Armenia under the impact of the Armenian lobby on one hand, the US is eager to have a share in the production and transportation of the Azerbaijani oil on the other hand.

However, Azerbaijan has the support of USA in this matter in the past years. But the failure of the efforts the co-chair countries, where Armenian lobby is strong, make for the solution of the conflict shows the Azerbaijani diplomacy needs to be more active.   

All ways lead to Karabakh...

Breaking a ceasefire, Armenia has for several days been shooting our positions in different directions, which has caused a war atmosphere in the region. According to official information, fights at the front left 13 persons martyr and some wounded. Information on numerous losses of Armenia is not disclosed. In any case, this way is used, since this information will accelerate the ruin of the country that is already being destructed.

Battles ongoing today at the front prove the patience of long years is lost. Then, what is the difference between the Karabakh war of the 90s and fights started these days? Of course, the high-level army of Azerbaijan and ending power of Armenia…

Nowadays, Azerbaijan has proved to be the most developed country in South Caucasus in all aspects. Azerbaijan, the strategic partner to a number of strong states, has a strong political will, powerful army. With about 4 billion USD military budget, our state possesses an army equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, tanks and artillery.  

However, to always support the peace does not exclude our capacity to make war. For all this time we kept patience not to shed blood, not to make mothers cry, leave children orphan, families without head.    

But the latest stories showed it is time to give the enemy a response it deserves. Armenians are about to fall into the trap they set for us. Azerbaijan’s demonstration of power in the last days made Armenians move the population they artificially settled in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and withdraw with a mass loss of soldier.

It all proves that no matter how much we love peace, we are able to have our lands back via war when it is necessary. Even if we have martyrs in this way, the flag of Azerbaijan will be waving in Karabakh at last!!!